Chap. IV. TUKU-TUKU — REST. ; V m 
S.S.E., about five miles. At the N.W. end, a swampy 
isthmus, 100 yards broad, joins a small peninsula to the 
main. This peninsula, called Motu o Puhi, at its junc- 
tion with the isthmus is defended by a very strong 
double fence. On it are the houses inhabited by the 
natives of the lake when compelled to take refuge there 
from the attacks of hostile tribes. A canoe from the 
eastern shore soon answered our salutes from the fort, 
and took us over to a settlement called Jjuku-tuku, 
where they set abundance of boiled potatoes before us ; 
but I fell asleep in my clothes after eating two or three, 
more tired than hungry, notwithstanding the jabber of 
at least fifty natives of both sexes, who crowded into 
the house to stare at the new pakehas, and hear the 
news from Tf^anganui. The house was a warepuni, or 
native hot-house, of large dimensions. It was very 
lofty ; held fifty people comfortably ; and was adorned 
inside with paddles, spears, and nets of two or three 
sorts. 
On the 26th we remained at Tuku-tuku to rest. 
This is a pretty settlement, in the N.E. corner of the 
lake. The underwood has been cut away, but the tall 
forest trees, chiefly matai or mai, remain standing and 
still alive ; the plantations and villages are disposed 
among their trunks, on the acclivity which rises from 
the side of the lake to Pihanga. They grow all their 
potatoes here by throwing up the soil in heaps, about 
four feet in diameter, and a foot high ; so that the 
whole cultivation takes place above the surface in arti- 
ficial beds. The soil is a rich brown loam, mingled, 
however, with a large proportion of powdered pumice- 
stone. The rain continued at intervals, and the clouds 
hung below the summit of Puki Onakl Half-way up 
the steep N.E. face of this mountain, a boiling spring 
juts out, which is considered by the natives a sovereign 
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